WESTON, Fla. (Feb. 26, 2012) – With a bevy of optimism following a successful fall season, the ETSU women’s golf team will open its 2012 spring campaign on Monday, traveling to Weston, Fla., to participate in the Sir Pizza Cards Challenge.

The event is sponsored by the University of Louisville and will be hosted by the Weston Hills Country Club. The Buccaneers, who enjoyed a pair of runner-up team finishes during the fall, have developed a talented lineup consisting of both veterans and newcomers.

Back in the fall, head coach Stefanie Shelton already saw the potential in her squad.

“This team certainly has the intention of winning the A-Sun championship and competing for a national championship,” said Shelton, whose squad captured the league title back in 2008. “Our scores during practice and qualifying have been extremely strong, and along with the winning attitude they’ve exhibited, I think these ladies have the ability to achieve all of our goals this year.”

Sophomore Sian Evans (Gillingham, England) and freshman Gabriella Wahl (Heidenheim, Germany) led the way for ETSU during the fall, with Evans posting a team-best stroke average of 75.3 and Wahl following close behind at 75.5. In addition, Wahl enjoyed a second place showing at the Palmetto Intercollegiate, while Evans twice placed in the top five individually.

Meanwhile, senior Mayte Vizcarrondo (Cadiz, Spain), junior transfer Chloe Garner (Somerset West, South Africa), and sophomore Larissa Steinfeldt (Eschweiler, Germany), each posted impressive rounds or strong finishes in the early part of the season. Vizcarrondo produced a fifth-place finish at the Lady Paladin Invitational, while Garner’s 69 in the second round of the Lady Pirate Intercollegiate matched the lowest individual round score of any Buc during the fall.

The Bucs will play in four events this spring before going after another conference title beginning April 9 at the Atlantic Sun Conference championships in Deland, Fla. For more on ETSU women’s golf throughout the 2012 spring season, visit ETSUBucs.com and click on the women’s golf link.